Optical Illusions

Have you ever seen the kid's show Bill Nye the Science Guy? He has some great science on his show. This particular clip shows some great optical illusions.

Optical Illusion - 3D House

Here's another optical illusion. Isn't it amazing? I won't spoil it for you - watch the video.



It's all in the mind's eye.

Optical illusion - The Impossible Triangle

The impossible triangle isn't really impossible, it is our visual perception of a two dimensional object. The impossible triangle is a spatial paradox - when you view the triangle, the rods seem to simultaneously appear in the foreground and recede at the same time.

Have you ever wondered how some of the optical illusions are created? This utube video shows you how to create an "impossible triangle".

Optical Illusions II

Quotes on illusion:


"What can this piece of paper do; imagine?"
~Alamgir Hashmi~

"Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that we live, if we do"
~Elizabeth Bowen~

"An illusion which makes me happy is worth a verity which drags me to the ground"
~Christopher Martin-Wieland~

The quotes above are talking about illusions as altered perceptions of reality. A person who sees illusions is not viewing reality, but instead something contrived out of the imagination of the mind. An optical illusion is a perception of visual reality.

A dictionary definition explains it in this way:
optical illusion:visually perceived image that is deceptive or misleading.

Here is a set of optical illusions. Read the instructions prior to each illusion and see if you can make out the images.

Optical illusion

Seeing isn't always believing. Optical illusions play with our visual perceptions of things.

When I was a kid, someone handed me a card just like the video below. I thought it was great to find it on utube. Follow the instructions and you will see a clear image at the end.